Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja movement has raised concern after UDA’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) that was being broadcasted live on Tuesday went off air.
In a press statement by Raila’s campaign spokesperson, Prof. Makau Mutua, the rights of the media were infringed by the DP William Ruto-led UDA party.
According to the Raila presidential secretariat, the decision to choose a presidential candidate should be open, accountable, and transparent.
“Mr Ruto decided to deny the Kenyan public and even their own members (UDA) the opportunity to see for themselves how and why they took the decisions they did. The opacity and secrecy of UDA is a chilling reminder to Kenyans what Mr Ruto would do if he captured state power,” read part of the statement signed by Prof. Makau Mutua.
“The decision to choose a party’s candidate for President of the Republic must be open, accountable and transparent. It cannot, and must not, be done in darkness where is small cabal of elites and oligarchs choose the presidential candidate,” the statement further read.
In the statement, Raila’s presidential secretariat added that the media is the eyes of the people and, therefore, must be allowed to cover all public events.
The secretariat cited the Azimio presidential candidate’s last week coronation event stating that it was open to the public and nothing was kept away.
Kenyans raised concerns on Tuesday after UDA requested to go off air during their NDC with the media being kept out of the event.
The presiding MC Jasper Muthomi alias Mc Jessy, however, detailed that they had requested the media to give them some time to do some housekeeping before going live again.
